A Time to Keep: Theme; Alcohol

Overview:

The theme of alcohol is prevalent in George Mackay Brown’s story collection “A Time to Keep”.
It serves as a component to reveal deeper truths about the characters, society, and the culture during the time period depicted in the stories.

Presence and Role of Alcohol:

Alcohol is often a central aspect of community gatherings, highlighting its cultural significance within the Orkney society.
Several characters struggle with alcoholism, offering a glimpse into the harsh realities of life.
The theme of alcohol also underlines the escapism that characters seek from their mundane and often challenging lives.

Quotes and Analysis:

“…. a few of them began to speak about the drink. It was the cause of all the trouble…” – This quote stresses alcohol’s destructive impact on individuals and the community as a whole.
“He took another pull at the bottle; it filmed his brain with a kind of forgetful happiness…” - The use of the term “forgetful happiness” here illuminates alcohol’s power to provide temporary relief from harsh realities.

Impact on Characters and Society:

Characters often resort to alcohol due to their inability to cope with their problems, leading to destructive behaviour.
Alcohol is seen as both a social bonding tool and a means of escape from reality, a dichotomy that reflects its complex role in society.
The impact of too much drinking on interpersonal relationships, health, finances, and self-respect is explored, sometimes with tragic outcomes.

Interpretation Through the Alcohol Theme:

Mackay Brown reveals the adversities in the lives of the island folk largely through the alcohol theme.
Often, alcoholism is shown to be a symptom of broader sociocultural issues such as unemployment, loneliness, or despair–rather than the primary problem.
Brown uses the theme of alcohol to raise questions on individual freedom, societal norms and control.

Types and Effects of Alcohol Depiction:

The depiction of alcohol in “A Time to Keep” is both realistic and empathetic, showing characters both at their most vulnerable and at their most joyous.
It conjures both the warmth of community camaraderie and the cold harshness of addiction side by side.
Through this, Mackay Brown presents the cathartic power of storytelling and the transcendent human spirit.

In short, analysing Mackay Brown’s stylistic approach to the theme of alcohol in “A Time to Keep” can aid in appreciating the nuanced writing style, and provide valuable insight into the dynamics of the society he portrays.